Friday, August 9, 2013

This is an awesome video of the Eucharistic Adoration at World Youth Day. The singer is Matt Maher, one of my favorite Christian artists. I think it is so beautiful and a spiritual experience just watching it! Take time to really pray this song with Matt Maher and praise Jesus...Eucharistic Adoration at WYD...

Thursday, August 8, 2013

"Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the community and their livestock to drink."

Numbers 20:11

In today's "Living Faith," author Claire J. King suggested using the readings today to contemplate water. I love that idea! We, who simply have to turn a faucet to get water, have little concept of what a precious resource clean water is! Today is a wonderful day to praise God for the water we have at our disposal, think of ways we can use our water wisely and less wastefully, and think about how we can make a difference for those who do not have access to clean water. Let's be mindful today every time we turn on a faucet or flush the toilet. I am listing some resources to help you find ways to conserve the water we have and also a wonderful program called Water With Blessings, which provides water filters for areas where clean water is not available. Please check out the links below! And, please, let us use our water wisely...as it gushes forth in abundance, mindful that it may not do that elsewhere! Love, heidi

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

"And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, 'Have pity on me, Lord, son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.'"

Matthew 15:22

Trying to sum up this woman in one word, I came up with several. Persistent. Determined. Foreigner. Alien. Suffering. I really like one of the thoughts Fr. Anthony Gittins says about her in his book, "Encountering Jesus." Fr. Gittins says, "This woman represents all people--parents, women, mothers--who are racked by the pain of their children and by their own powerlessness to quell it." And, I especially love Fr. Gittins title of the chapter he writes about this woman, "Crumbs of Comfort." Jesus is shocking in this story. First he ignores the woman calling out to him (v. 23). But she keeps calling to him. Persistent. Then Jesus qualifies his ignoring her by pointing out that he has come only for the children of Israel (v. 24) One would think that would be enough to send the woman away! But she is determined. And she is suffering; her daughter is suffering, thus she is suffering. (And don't all parents know how that feels?) Finally, Jesus really shocks us when he tells her that the food of the children must not be thrown to the dogs. Ouch and double ouch! You would certainly think that this poor, suffering, foreign, alien woman would take that and walk away. But, she does not. She comes back with a brilliant response, "even the dogs eat the scraps from the table of their master." (v. 27) Never underestimate the power of a mother advocating for her child! Jesus may shock us in this story, but so does the woman. She receives what she asks--her daughter is healed from that hour. Amazing, isn't it? Blessings on your Wednesday! Love, heidi

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

"Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up a mountain to pray, While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white..."

Luke 9:28

Have you ever wondered how easy it would be to have walked with Jesus? You get to be right there for the food miracles, the healings, the Transfiguration? Wouldn't your faith be rock solid if you could witness all these events like the apostles did? Imagine being Peter, James and John--seeing Jesus transfigured right there, and watching him visit with Moses and Elijah! Talk about faith-promoting! But, as Jesus says in John 20:29: "Blessed are those who have NOT seen and have believed!" Jesus knows that seeing is believing...that's easy faith. But, trudging through the hard stuff, feeling alone and abandoned; that is dicier. And Jesus knows how that feels, too. Think of Jesus calling out from the cross, feeling so abandoned. Come to think of it, a couple of these same guys who witnessed the Transfiguration abandoned Jesus at the time of his cross. Of these three, only John was noted to be there, at the foot of the cross, as Jesus suffered and died. Where were Peter and James? Their rock-solid faith had crumbled and they fled. Seeing didn't necessarily give them the faith they needed during that time of difficulty. Lord, please help me believe through the hard stuff! I can see you so clearly during the good times, but the times of difficulty, I tend to miss you! Love, heidi

Monday, August 5, 2013

"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."

Luke 12:15

Surprisingly, within hours of hearing this Gospel yesterday, I was ordering shoes on Zappos.com! How can I hear this vivid message in the Gospel, hear a reflective homily on same, and then bypass it completely a short time later? Oh, I can justify the shoes, mind you. I may not actually keep both pair. I haven't bought shoes in a while. As fall looms ahead, I have a historical propensity for buying "school shoes." Living a simple life can be so challenging! But, as Sr. MelannieSvoboda asks in "Give Us This Day," "Where is our treasure? Does it lie in 'stuff' or relationships, possessions or people, hoarding or sharing?" So the flip side of hoarding is sharing, the flip side of treasuring our stuff is nurturing our relationships. Such good questions and truths to ponder on an August Monday! Love, heidi